The Chico State men’s soccer team’s run for a third straight NCAA Championship Tournament berth begins Thursday night when the 23rd-ranked Wildcats kick off the season against Western Washington at University Soccer Stadium Thursday night at 7. It’s not only the Wildcats’ season opener, but it’s also Pack The House Night at the stadium. The women’s match will start the action at 4:30.

Students are admitted free with a Wildcat ID card. Tickets are $6 for general admission, $4 for seniors and non-Chico State students, and $2 for children high school aged and under. 

The Wildcats are coming off a 13-4-4 campaign and were picked to win their third consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division title this season in the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll. Their first win of 2011 came at Western Washington in the second game of the season as then freshman Octavio Guzman scored what proved to be the game winning goal on a penalty kick for his first collegiate tally. Guzman is among 16 returning letter winners from that team, six of whom were starters.

Chico State has beaten Western Washington in each of their previous five meetings including the past four seasons in a row and lead the all-time series 8-7-0.

Western Washington was picked to finish fourth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Preseason Poll.  The Vikings return six starters and 14 lettermen from the team that finished a disappointing 5-11-1 a year ago.